April 18, 1932 - September 15, 2021
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Norm Haynes at the Bethany Lodge in Didsbury.
Norm could light up the room with his smile and had a way of making everyone feel special. He had a fiercely competitive spirit and a strong sense of right and wrong. His positive attitude toward life enabled him to make the best of a bad situation. Family was always important to him and some of his favourite times were spent around the kitchen table surrounded by family and eating Gwenie's pies. His "sayings" and poetry recitations brought humour to many occasions.
Norm was born in Calgary and spent his early years on the farm outside Okotoks. He was well known in the Okotoks community for his athletic ability and his love and knowledge of horses. He, along with his dad and brother George, trained and raced horses. When Norm was a young guy, he was often the jockey. Norm's love of horses continued his entire life. He had a special way of interacting with them. He trained, bought, and sold countless horses. He rode as often as he could and was a regular rider on cattle drives and trail rides. He especially enjoyed the rides with his close amigos west of the Forestry Trunk Road. For a time he bred thoroughbred mares. In his later years he loved to sit with Gwen on their deck at the West 80 and just watch the horses.
Norm was an outrider at the Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon races from 1947 to 1963. He was part of the championship outfit eleven times, but one of his favourite memories was winning the championship with his dad. His outriding career ended when he was seriously injured on the track. A few years later, he became the Head Judge for the Stampede wagon races. He ran a "tight ship", but was known to be fair. Norm was instrumental in many of the changes that made the chuckwagon races safer. Norm became a member of the Stampede Pioneer Hall of Fame after he retired in 2008. This saddened relatives and friends who no longer had an opportunity to get infield passes and sit outside around Norm and Gwen's trailer before and after the races.
"Normie" loved hockey. Most of his junior and senior hockey was played in Okotoks. He first joined the Oilers in 1947. One of the achievements he was most proud of was winning the goal scoring title when the Okotoks Oilers were part of The Big Six League. Later after moving to Didsbury he played and later coached the Didsbury Ramblers, who in 1979 won the Chinook League and Alberta Intermediate championship with a great group of guys from Olds and Didsbury. He always said that one of the best parts about the game was the guys you met along the way. In addition to playing baseball, Norm was also a boxer with the AB Amateur Boxing Association and fought matches around the province. He won the Golden Glove for his weight class.
Norm worked for Canadian Western Natural Gas for 35 years. It was the promotion to District Agent that encouraged him to leave Black Diamond and transfer to Didsbury, and although it was difficult to leave, he said that it was one of the best moves he could have made for him and his family. Here he joined the Didsbury Kinsmen Club and later the K-40's and formed lifelong friendships.
After retirement Norm and Gwen spent twenty-two winters in Arizona. They were active participants in the many activities offered at View Point, but their favourite was golf and happy hours with friends.
In 2014, Norm moved to the Bethany Lodge. Here he received excellent care from truly exceptional care givers. Over the years he developed great relationships with many of the staff who often came into his room just to chat.
Norm was predeceased by Gwen, his wife of 67 years, his parents, William and Elizabeth, his siblings Laura, Roy, Bill, Margaret, Albert, George, and his son-in-law, Cal Brassard.
Norm is survived by his children, Sherilyn (Larry), Bill, and Shawna (Marty), grandchildren, Amanda, Jessie (Katie) Ryan and Shawn and great grandchildren, Rylee and Tucker.
Our family is deeply saddened that we are unable to have a community celebration of Norm's life at this time due to Covid 19 restrictions. So for now until we meet again "tight lines and straight shooting and keep your reins out of the manure".
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Didsbury Bethany in Norm's name to support the music programs (BethanyCareFoundation.com) or Bethany Care Foundation, 100 - 2915 26 Ave SE, Calgary, AB, T2B 2W6 Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Didsbury entrusted with arrangements. 403-335-4773 Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com.
